Chapter 126: Chapter Twenty-nine

Alec

I slept like shit.

I had such a bad headache that I wanted to crawl into a tiny dark hole and die, and then I thought of Nat. I ran into the bathroom and heaved all the contents of my stomach into the toilet.

This had to end. I had to end it. Mrs. Murray was right. She couldn't fix me, but I couldn't keep going on like this.

Where to begin? I couldn't just walk up to Demetri and say, “Hey man, sorry for being caught in a compromising situation with your mom. Oh, and sorry about lying to you for your entire life.”

Saying it out loud just made it sound so much worse.

I heard my phone go off.

With a groan I walked into Nat's old bedroom and snagged my phone from the charger.

WE NEED 2 TALK.

It was Demetri.

Great. He was probably planning on running me over with his car. I'd welcome it at this point. I texted him back.

GIVE ME 15.

I threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.

My phone buzzed again.

IN FRONT OF THE RESORT @ SEASIDE.

I stuffed the phone into my back pocket and ran down the stairs to grab a granola bar. I needed something to eat since I'd just thrown up whatever was left in my stomach.

Mrs. Murray was sitting at the counter, a cup of coffee in her hand. Her eyes were glued to her iPad.

“Alec?” She looked tired. Her hair was thrown into a messy bun. She took her glasses off and rubbed her eyes. “Is there something you need to tell me about Nat?”

Nothing that would make her feel any better about our relationship. “No. I… I love her. That's about it.”

“And you'll do anything to protect her?”

“Of course.”

“Even from things like this?” She showed me her iPad and sighed. “What will you do when they do this to her in the media? I need to know you are on her side.”

“I am.” My eyes scanned the article and then my blood ran absolutely cold.

Demetri and Nat hugging.

Demetri kissing Nat's head.

Nat crying.

Demetri cupping her face.

“Son of a—” I stopped myself, set the iPad back on the counter, and stormed out of the room. I was going to kill him. What the hell was he thinking? He had Alyssa!

He didn't need to be comforting my girlfriend! It wasn't his damn job, it was mine!

A voice in my head said I was acting insane, but possessiveness washed over me. Well, that and a mixture of insecurity. What the hell was wrong with me?

I ran as fast as I could to the resort in front of the bustling boardwalk.

Demetri was sitting on one of the park benches waiting for me.

He stood, disapproval practically radiating from him. “So the prodigal returns?”

I punched him in the face.

Demetri stumbled to the ground with a curse. I heard the clicking of cameras. Crap. I knew better than to bring all our baggage out into public, but I couldn't control myself.

Anger pulsated through my body. I wanted to punch him again, to kick him, to make him hurt. He groaned, I flexed my hand into another fist, and made a lunge for him.

He sighed heavily. “Do it again, man.

“Do it if it makes you feel better.” And then my irresponsible younger brother lowered his hands and gave me the perfect opportunity to beat the shit out of him.

I was an ass.

I fell to the ground next to him amidst the cameras and whispers and fought for control over my emotions.

Everything felt so out of control, and it was in moments like these that I realized I was toeing the edge of self-destruction. I was one bad choice away from prison or hurting someone I loved.

“So.” Demetri rubbed his face as blood trickled down his cheek. “About that talk.”

I bit my lip and nodded. “Yeah, about that.”

Demetri was silent and then said, “Let's go see the seals.”

We helped each other up and walked toward the Seaside Aquarium. Ever since Demetri and Alyssa started dating, they made it a regular Saturday pilgrimage.

Demetri also knew the owners, so it was easy for him to get them to shut it down while he and Alyssa visited, especially considering how crazy the paparazzi had gotten.

I tried to look happy as I walked along the boardwalk. People openly gaped, and for the first time in my life, it made me feel uncomfortable, vulnerable.

We arrived at the aquarium and went in, closing the door behind us. Demetri motioned to the guy at the desk. He nodded once and put the Will Return sign on the door.

“Fish.” Demetri handed me a bucket full of fish. I took it and began throwing them mindlessly into the water. The seals splashed and fought over the fish.

Damn. I was officially jealous of the seals. At least they didn't have to worry about anything except clapping and looking badass while people fed them.

I guess that sounded a lot like a retirement home or preschool. Hell, things were so much easier when I was a kid.

“So…” Demetri took the bucket from my hands and refilled it. “You want to go first or do you want me to?”

I snorted. “It's like you've gotten a brain transplant or something.”

“Come again?”

Shaking my head I turned to him. “You're like my damn conscience, the voice of reason, the sane one. When the hell did that happen?”

“To be fair, you did tell me to grow a pair last time I got into trouble. I believe your words were, Grow up, be a man… you know, something along those lines.”

“Karma,” I mumbled.

“Isn't it great?” Demetri grinned.

I didn't return his smile. “Not the words I would choose. But, for what it's worth, I am proud of you.” I felt my throat close with emotion.

“I'll go first,” Demetri said quietly, leaning his arms against the watery cement cage. “I'm sorry.”

“What?” Had I been leaning any further on the cage I would have fallen in from shock. “What the hell do you have to be sorry for?”

Demetri shrugged. “Taking so damn long to get over my shit.”

“You were just a kid… it's not your fault…”

“And you're not a kid? Damn, Alec, you turn twenty-one this year. You're still a spring chicken, man.”

“Because that's what every guy wants to be compared to.” I bit down hard on my lip. “And it's not your fault. If anything, it's mine.

Demetri moved closer to me and concentrated on the wall in front of us where it said: “Please do not touch the seals.”

“I want to tell you,” I said breaking the silence. “But I'm afraid to. I'm afraid you'll never forgive me.”

Demetri laughed low in his throat shaking his head. “Did you sleep with my girlfriend again?”

“No.”

“Get her hooked on drugs again?”

“That would be a no.”

“Any future plans to do so?”

“That would be a hell, no.”

“So history isn't repeating itself.” Demetri smirked. “And whatever happens from here on out, we can handle it together. You didn't abandon me. I won't abandon you.”

“Do you really mean that?” I felt my eyes well with tears as I tried to keep my voice even.

“Absolutely.”

“I—” I pushed away from the cement cage and began pacing. “I screwed up.”

“With Nat?”

“With you,” I clarified. “I screwed up with you.”

“But you just said—”

“Before the fame, before everything… when dad died… He made me promise, and I did promise him, but then I just felt jealous. Why is it that I'm such a selfish bastard that I'm jealous of everything?

Demetri laughed. “Well, they are badass.”

I shook my head, if I didn't say it now I never would. “You're adopted.”

The room fell silent. Demetri's smile froze on his face and then he looked down at his hands.

Someone kill me now. It felt like ten years. I watched a series of emotions play across his face, not one of them appeared to be shock.

“I know.”

“WHAT?” I yelled.

Demetri shrugged. “I was there.”

“You were a baby. There's no way you would remember, man.”

“Not that, you ass.” Demetri rolled his eyes. “I remember dad telling you something important. I remember feeling like I wasn't the same as you but I never could figure out why.

“And then I heard that word. Adopted.” Demetri folded his arms across his chest. “Granted, nobody's ever actually told me. But I assumed it to be true. I mean, look at me.”

He pointed to his body and then pointed to mine. “We're pretty different.”

“Not that different,” I said fiercely. “You're still my brother.”

“Calm down.” Demetri laughed. “I know that. You think it would be that easy getting rid of me?”

“Well…” I cursed. “That's not all.”

“I figured it wasn't. There's a conspiracy theory out there about us not being blood-related anyways. In fact, the Twitter profile has like five hundred thousand followers.”

“Good to know.” I smirked.

“So?” Demetri shrugged. “What else? Lay it on me.”

“You're Jaymeson's step-brother.”

Demetri's face fell. I looked away. I couldn't look him in the eyes. I just kept my head down in hopes that the seal would hop out of its cage and maul me.

Finally, after a few minutes of utter silence, I looked up just in time to see Demetri's fist flying toward my face.